Technical Studies A.A.S.

This degree is designed specifically to provide cooperatively sponsored educational opportunities leading to an associate degree for employees/students participating in quality educational and training programs. The AAS in Technical Studies is just the first step. You can continue your educational journey into the Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) Degree.

Core Competencies

This program provides courses meeting the following core competencies:

Component I

Component II

Technical/Occupational Specialty (39 credit hour maximum)This component consists of technical specialty courses specific to an occupational area. Technical courses developed by the college, approved courses included in a business, industry, labor, or agency-based education/ training program or combinations of credit courses and/or non-credit training modules evaluated for credit equivalency by an identified college body can be included in this component. Externally based education and training programs which are equivalent to college level classroom/laboratory courses are to be converted to college credit hours at no less ratio than 15:1 contact to credit hours for lecture, and at a rate consistent with the lab contact hour/credit hour ratio of WVU Parkersburg. Credit equivalencies for non-credit training modules will be converted at no less ratio than 30:1 contact to credit hours. Credit for externally based education and training will be awarded upon completion of the college work Component I.

Component III

Supervised Worksite-Based Learning or On-the-JobTraining in the Occupation (12 credit hour maximum)Credit for worksite-based training is optional in a certificate in technical studies program. When incorporated, such training consists of a paid or unpaid internship practicum, or on-the-job training experience performed in a business, industry, labor, or agency setting in the occupational area related to the certificate.

The credit value of internships included in the certificate program in Technical Studies will be determined by the same process(es) and contact to credit hour ratio(s) as that in traditional programs. Business, industry, and agency-based on-the-job training experience is to be converted to credit hours at a ratio of 160:1, with a maximum of 960 contact hours allowable. A statement of the total number of contact hours experienced in this component may be placed on the college record. This credit is recorded immediately prior to graduation from WVU at Parkersburg.